Guilfordbeekeepers.org

Just when I think that I am beginning to understand bees a little something comes along and poses a totally new question.

Today I looked out my window and discovered what I initially thought was the beginning of a swarm. The front of one of my strongest hives was covered in bees and there was a beard hanging from the landing. Probably 5 lbs of bees or more. I went out side to observe. At this point there was no rain. There was not much flying activity just hanging on to the hive and each other. Soon it began to mist rain and the bees began pouring back inside as if the fire drill was over and everyone back to work. What's up? I just added a medium super to this hive last weekend to make it a 4 medium hive so I think they were getting overcrowded. It is my feeling these were wanting to make their clensing flight only to be delayed another day by the wet weather. Am I correct or was this the prelude to a swarm? If it was a swarm attempt only delayed by the rain then now there are possibly two queens in the hive.
Any other ideas?
Thanks

If you put a super of foundation on, I would take two frames out of each of the other 3 mediums and switch them with foundation frames from the new super. While doing so, I would check all frames for queen cells.

If I found queen cells, I would either make up a nuc using the old queen, "forced swarm", or I would do a 50-50 split.

Whether they are about to swarm or not, I don't know. They are definitely overcrowded. Adding a super without removing some of the full frames from the brood area does not relieve overcrowding. Only breaking up the brood nest will relieve it.